Folding tray or lap-board.



No. 801,749. PATENTED 00T.1o,1905.

o. E. STBNERSBN. FOLDING TRAY 0R LAP BOARD.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 28, 1905.

6km/lm E JMU??? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FOLDING TRAY OR LAPBOARD.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1905.

I Application led January 28,1905. Serial No. 243,144.

Be it known that LCHRIs'rIAN E. S'rnNnnsnN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Charlotte, in the county of Mecklenlnlrg and Stateof North Carolina, have invented new and useful Improvements inFoldingrlrays or Lap- Boards, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to folding trays or lapboards, and has for itsobjects to produce al comparativelysimple inexpensive device of thischaracter which may be readily extended for use or folded into neatcompact form for transportation or storage and one wherein the flexiblecovering will when the device is extended be maintained taut and rig'idto present a smooth supporting-surface for articles resting upon theboard and the bracing elcments maintained in secure engagementwith theside bars.

To these ends the invention comprises the novel features of constructionand combination of parts more fully hereinafter described.

ln the accompanyingl drawings, Figure l is a reverse plan view of adevice embodying the invention. Fig. Q is a side view showing the samefolded.

Referring to the drawings` it will be seen that the improved devicecomprises as a whole a collapsible frame l and a flexible sheet orcovering '2, designed to be maintained in taut distended position by theframe l, thus to present a comparativelyv 'rigid surface or table.

The frame l includesin its organization lon gitudinal side members orbars 3, an intermediate longitudinal member or bar l, andobliquely-disposed foldablemembers or links 5, herein termed the bracingelements and designed for maintaining the table in extended condition.These elements or links 5 are preferably arranged in pairs, having theirinner ends pivoted or hinged, as at (5. to the intermediate bar at apoint adjacent the longitudinal center of the latter and their outerends sharpened or beveled, as at 7, for engagement with correspondingrecesses or seats 8, .formed in the inner side edges of the bars 3, thusto maintain the frame in unfolded position and the liexible cover 2 indistended position.

The flexible sheet or covering 2 is by preference composed of felt andattached to the frame by means of stitches or other attaching' devices9, threaded through perforations 10, formed at appropriately spacedintervals throughout the length of the bars 3 and 4:, which latter areconnected adjacent their ends by means of llexible elements or tapes l1,designed to limit the outward movement of the side bars 3 and insureproper engagement of the ends of the braces therewith.

In practice the frame may be folded or eX- panded, as illustrated inFig'. l, thus to maintain the covering' in distended position, underwhich conditions the bracing' elements or links will extend obliquely ofthe board with their beveled ends 7 seated in the recesses 8, as beforeexplained, it being understood that in order to collapse the frame forfolding the board the links will be disengaged from the seats 8,whereupon said links and the bars 3 may be folded to lie upon oppositesides of the bar 4, as seen in Fig. 2, it being' understood that thelooseportions of the cover may then be wrapped around the frame. It isto be observed that each of the side bars 3 is connected at pointsadjacent its ends with the intermediate bar through the medium of thetapes ll and that independently-Inovable braces 5 are provided formaintaining -each of the side bars in open condition, whereby the boardpresents, in effect, two separate sections, either of which may becollapsed or unfolded independently of the other to thus vary the widthof the board as a whole. lt will also be observed that when the frame isdistended the tapes or ribbons ll serve to limit the outward movement ofthe side bars 3 and insure proper engagement of the ends of the bracestherewith, while the braces will, owing" to their oblique disposition,have a greater stretching or tensioning action.

The device as above described is especially adapted for use as acollapsible card-table to be readily and conveniently carried bypassengers for use upon railway-trains or the like and is also designedfor use as a lap-board in connection with sewing or like occupations.

Having thus describedthe invention, what l claim is* In a device of theclass described, a collapsible frame comprising longitudinal side barsrecessed adjacent their ends to provide seats,

IOO

an intermediate longitudinal bar, obliquelydisposed foldable bracespivoted to the intermediate bar adjacent the longitudinal Center of thelatter, said braces having their free ends beveled for engagement Withthe said seats, and fiexihle tapes extended transversely of the frameand attached to the intermediate bar, and side bars for limiting theoutward

